With the ash still settling from Fire Country‘s Season 4 finale on April 25, 2025, fans wonder if they’ve seen the last of the beloved Cal Fire Captain Vince Leone (Billy Burke) and dutiful firefighter Gabriela Perez (Stephanie Arcila). The two popular mainstays have helped define the show’s textural fabric since season 1. Yet, after weeks of speculation, rumors, and hearsay, CBS has issued definitive answers regarding Vince and Gabriela’s fate.
While potentially shaking up the casting presents the opportunity to breathe new life into the procedural action-thriller, fans have voiced displeasure about possibly saying goodbye to Vince and Gabriela. Yet, given what transpired in the last few episodes, it’s hard to imagine them returning in any other capacity than as a guest star. With context provided by the network and the actors, answers about Vince and Gabriela lay ahead.
What Happened to Gabriela & Vince in Fire Country Season 3, Explained
Fire Country‘s third season found Gabriela stalked by Finn (Blake Lee), an unstable lunatic. The subplot came to a head in the Season 3 finale when Gabriela survived Finn’s attack, resulting in Audrey (Leven Rambin) shooting him in the chest as he tries to kidnap Gabriela. Following the traumatic ordeal, Gabriela was last seen outside the Buena Vista nursing facility, which went up in a blaze and quickly became a towering inferno.
Inside the facility was Vince’s father and Bode’s grandfather, Walter Leone (Jeff Fahey), who required treatment for dementia. When Bode and Walter could not evacuate the burning building in time, Vince and Sharon (Diane Farr) rushed to help despite being ill-equipped. The finale concludes with the burning building collapsing into a smoldering heap with Vince, Sharon, and Walter still inside, leaving their fates a total mystery. The assumption is that they do not make it out alive.
According to Deadline, Vince’s fate was deliberately left open-ended so as not to spoil too many characters’ futures. Meanwhile, Gabriela’s time as a Fire Country series regular has ended. Although she was last seen outside the burning facility, her storyline was not resolved to explain her impending departure.
Therefore, it’s possible that Vince survives the fiery building collapse and will return as a series regular in Season 4, while Gabriela is expected to return in a limited capacity as a guest star. However, it’s more likely that Vince died, and Gabriela will recede into the background as a supporting character.
Are Gabriela & Vince Leaving ‘Fire Country’ Forever?
We love Stephanie, and we are committed to saying that the Bode-Gabriela story does not end here, it goes on. We’re hoping that that we can bring that character back, because we think that they have such great chemistry, and the audience is really invested in the two of them.”
Of course, one of the harsh realities of keeping costs down on a pricey network ensemble is to cut big-name cast members. While the powers that be are confident they can and will return Gabriela to the fold, there are no definitive answers regarding Vince Leone’s fate. At least, not yet.
All viewers can go on is what was depicted onscreen. At last glance, Vince appears to have perished in the Buena Vista fire. Based on his training and grooming, the presumption is that Jake Crawford (Jordan Calloway) will become Cal Fire’s next Battalion Chief.
As for Stephanie Arcila’s willingness to reprise her role as Gabriela Perez, even in a limited fashion, the actor told Deadline:
“I never say never. Life takes us through so many avenues, and Gabriela is such a gift to me in my career, personally and professionally. I’m so grateful to have played a Latina on a show and a Latina where they were able to include part of my culture as well, part of my Colombian background. It was really exciting.”
